The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-01-31
Deoadenoe of Railroad Expresses.

The announcement in the Journal of Satur-
day, on the strength of telegraphic advices from
Philadelphia, that the Adams Express Company
had concluded negotiations with the PhYadel-
pha & Reading Railroad Company by which it
would succeed the Philadelphia & Reading ex-
press on Feb. l. thereby adding some fifteen hun
dred miles Of territory to it's Eastern divisions
and covering a large number of thriving manu-
featuring towns, is a matter of no small impor-
tance to the old regular express companies and
one having bearing on railroad expresses that
cannot be lightly ignored. When the b. & O.
express was organized the success of the Phia-
depha & Reading express was cited as an argu-
ment in favor of railroad expresses. but the true
condition of that concern. and that it was
a barnaele ON the railroad proper was not even
known to the stockholders until a committee
gave the matter thorough sitting. At the an
nual meeting of the railroad company, held In
New York, Dec. 81 1884, the committee reported
concerning the company's express service 1t is
a powerful argument in favor of the regular ex-
presses. After stating that the gross receipts
for the year 1884 amounted to 1923 0O0 and the
profits 10 $l66 900, the committee finds that the
railroad company is not credited with one dollar
for service, and had the 40 per cent usually paid
by the regular express companies to the rail
roads been charged the net profit would have
been reduced to net loss of $S. 200 Had the com
pany's lines been operated by regular express
xhe road would have received $170 20O 40 per
cent. OF the gross earnings, the usual amount
paid, instead of $163, 900. as by their own ex-
press making a clear loss, as stated, to the road
of So 200 The Richmond & Allegheny railway.
which I'D its own express business, was in the
same boat that year. Its annual report for 1885
showed gross earnings from its express for the
year of $l9,666, and expenses, $13562. Now, if
40 per cent of the earnings were charged against
the net profits it would show that tho road had
operated the express business at loss of 81, 762
to the stockholders. If the reports of these two
roads be taken as a criterion to judge by,
and they are, railroad expresses are not
a fattering success. Taose who are
posted say that the Baltimore s. Ohio
and Erie Express Companies both Of which
were originated by John King, jr., are managed
on thu saioe false system; that is they show
han9s' VIZ, gross receipts, and of course, net
earni, y they deduct simply the ordinary ex-
penses of operating: but the 40 per cent
paid for the transportation facilities furnished
by the railroad companies as the regular ex
presses have to 90, it would be found that both
these railroad expresses are netting a heavy loss
every day they run, whereas. il the regular ex-
presses running on these roads they would
receive clear OF all deductions, 40 per cent
Of the gross earnings Let committees Of etoek-
holders of the Baltimore g. Ohio and Erie rail
roads look into this matter thoroughly aud the
statements will be verified The stockholders
Of the Philadephia d Reading railroad were
powerless To effect any change in the System at
hat time, ewing to the opposition OF the ofisers
II tho road, but It would now seem from the